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EVIL TENDENCIES OF THE PRRESENT CRISIS. 



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DISCOURSE, 



DELIVERED JULY 4, 1847 



BY RICHARD TOLMAN, 

Pastor of the Third Congregational Church, in Danverb. 



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DISCOURSE : 



Genesis vi. 4. The same became mighty men, which were of old, men of 
renown. 

We know but very little of the state of mankind, during the 
sixteen hundred and fifty six years before the flood. The his- 
tory of the whole of that period is condensed within the com- 
pass of six short chapters. But, brief as is that history, it is 
long enough to give us some idea of the overwhelming tide of 
iniquity, which preceded the deluge of waters. If we are not 
particularly informed respecting men's acquaintance, at that 
time, with the arts and sciences, we do learn that they had ad- 
vanced far in wicked devices. Whether they were, or were not, 
wise in Geology and Astronomy, is a matter of conjecture ; but 
it is certain that they were wise to do evil. How sad, how ap- 
palling the moral picture of the antedeluvian world, as drawn 
by the inspired penman ! 

We read that as God looked upon the earth, he saw that it 
was "corrupt ;" "filled with violence," — that is, with the fierce 
outbreaking of base lusts and passions ; he saw that "every im- 
agination of the thoughts of man's heart," or, his every intent 
and purpose, "was only evil continually." It is said, "There 
were giants in the earth in those days," — by which may be 
meant, giants not so much in stature, as in wickedness. There 
were Goliaths, perhaps, in bodily greatness; certainly, in heaven- 
daring iniquity. There were Sampsons in sin, if not in 
strength. 

And what an insight into the depravity of the antedeluvian3 
is afforded by our text. By this we learn who were their popvr 



4 

lar men. Now, the character of those whom the people es- 
teem, is an index of the character of the people themselves. 
Who, then, were the honored ones of that day V Wo read 
that righteous Noah "found grace in the eyes of the Lord," — 
but he was no favorite of the people. They, it would seem 
from the sacred record, preferred brutal courage to moral hero- 
ism. They had enthroned might above right ; or with them, 
as our text informs us, "mighty men" were the "men of re- 
nown." Those noted for their deeds of prowess, violence, and 
blood, appear to have been the celebrated individuals. Yes, 
while he, who was of such distinguished excellence, that he is 
described, by the inspired historian, as one who "walked with 
God," meets with the frown and contempt of that perverse 
generation, the Caesars and Napoleons seem to have won their 
esteem, and were, doubtless, welcomed with shouts of applause. 
And dreadful, most dreadful must be the degeneracy of the 
age, in which such is the case ; when the multitude give their 
sympathies and homage to the men of violence, rather than to 
the men of peace, admiring and honoring the ambitious de- 
structive warrior, instead of the hero of truth and duty. 

But, alas! in the picture of that degenerate race, swept away 
by the flood, do we not see revealed, to a sad extent, the like- 
ness of the people of our own time, and of our own country ? 
Who now are the men of renown, the favorites of the people ? 
Whose names are rung with applause through the land ? 
Whose exploits under the titles, — "The brilliant achievement," 
"The splendid affair," "The unparalleled gallantry," — are 
blazoned in the public journals to an admiring nation ? Are 
they not those of the mighty men of our times, — men mighty 
to carry on a crusade of blood and rapine against a sister Re- 
public, to invade her homes and hew down her people ? 

It is proposed then to call your attention to two of the evil 



tendencies, to which we are exposed, in the present crisis of 
our national affairs. 

1. We are liable to be blinded to the miseries and crimes of 
the Mexican war, by what is called the glory of our arms. 

More than twelve months have elapsed since the forces of 
the two contending nations first met in deadly encounter on the 
banks of the Rio Grande. From that time to the present, the 
news from the scene of strife has been seized with the greatest 
avidity. We have followed our army in its progress from bat- 
tle to battle, and from victory to victory, from tho bloody con- 
tests at Pallo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, Monterey and 
Buena Vista, to the terrible bombardment of Vera Cruz, and 
the awful slaughter of Cerro Gordo, until we find the troops 
pressing on exultingly to the Mexican capital. And, as we 
watch their movements, we are prone to participate, to some 
extent, in the excitement that urges forward the soldiers in 
their work of ruin. We are in great danger of being bewitch- 
ed by the fascinations, or dazzled by the splendor, in which the 
newspaper press arrays the career of conquests. Besides, 
when we have so often set before us the bonfires, the grand illu- 
minations, and public rejoicings for the success of our arms, 
and the imposing funeral honors rendered to the remains of 
those who "rushed to the deadly breach ;" when we read that 
the orator, the sculptor, and the painter, are laboring to pay 
their most flattering tribute of respect to the memory of the 
slain, how apt are we to lose sight of the grim and ghastly 
character of the contest in which they perished, — if we are not 
even drawn into favor with that contest, by the bewildering 
charm with which it is invested. And here we should be on 
our guard. 

One reason why war has been so long tolerated, — converting 
the earth to such an extent into a Golgotha, and rendering the 



history of man so tragical a story, — is, because men have been 
deceived by the glare thrown over its foul deeds. The hein- 
ousness of its guilt has been concealed under a showy dress. 
Amid the pomp and circumstance of the thing, the eye has 
been turned away from the horrors thereof. It is time that the 
pernicious delusion, under which the world has labored, was 
broken. It is time that men had begun to see, in its true light, 
the iniquity of that business, which is, in the language of the 
late Dr. Channing, "the concentration of all crimes ;" or, as 
Napolean, the prince of warriors, stigmatized it — "the trade of 
barbarians." We should turn our attention from the paean, the 
luxuriant garland, the triumphal arch, the brilliant illumination 
and the festive board, to the confused noise of battle, and the 
garments rolled in blood ; to those who grasp the cold ground 
in agony, and bite the earth in death. Surely, when we do 
this, when we strip war of its disguise, pluck its waving plumea, 
tear off its gilded epauletts, and various gaudy trappings, and 
look the demon in the face, we must shudder at the sight. 

May we do thus with the war in which we are now involv- 
ed. Could the dreadful waste of treasure and of blood, occa- 
sioned thereby, have been avoided without any sacrifice of the 
true interest or honor of the country ; is the war, as we have 
reason to believe, waged in part, if not mainly, for the pur- 
pose of extending and perpetuating that system cf oppression, 
which is now eating into the heart, and consuming the very 
vitals of the nation, — let us not be so beguiled, by the reported 
splendor of its conquests, as to give it even the shadow of our 
esteem, or support. Let not the shouts and huzzas of its vic- 
tories lead us to forget the death-shriek of the soldiers massa- 
cred, and the sighs and tears of the bereaved widows and or- 
phans, needlessly plunged into so fiery a trial. Oh, let not the 
illuminations and civic rejoicings for the success of our arms, 



and all the glitter and parade that an unprincipled press would 
throw around the matter, scar and blind our consciences to the 
guilt, the horrid guilt, of scourging the provinces of Mexico 
with fire and sword, for so vile a purpose as that referred to ! 
What a prostitution of the energies of this republic, — how we 
disgrace our character in the sight of earth, and provoke 
the judgments of heaven, by sending our fleets and armies, under 
such circumstances to fight and slaughter our brethren ! 

Be it that Mexico did not fully satisfy our acknowledged 
claims upon her. Her feeble, distracted, miserable state, 
should have produced a generous forbearance on our part ; we 
should have sought to instruct and bless her in the art of peace, 
and in the pure principles of the religion of Christ. But how 
little of the spirit of the gospel do we manifest, when we 
so recklessly sound the clarion of war against that republic; 
rushing into it, not as a herald of salvation, but as a messenger 
of woe; scattering among the people — not among the men onty, 
but among defenceless women and children — bombshells, rather 
than bibles ; pouring upon them a destructive tempest of "lead- 
en rain and iron hail," instead of a genial shower of christian 
charity ; and all this too, with the motto spread out in broad 
capitals, before the face of nations and of high heaven, — "Our 
country right or wrong !" May God lead the nation to repent 
of and forsake the iniquity ; for it is exceedingly aggravated, 
of mountain weight and of crimson dye ! 

I do not, indeed, deny the right of strict self-defence. But 
we have sad evidence, that the present war is not one of de- 
fence, but of aggression ; a crusade against freedom and human- 
ity; a piece of most atrocious wickedness, — rendering its 
authors and abettors obnoxious to a tremendous retribution. 
In the language of Rev. J. S. C. Abbot, "War with Mexico 
is not war ; it is massacre ; it is a strong race demolishing a 



8 

feeble one ; it is a full grown man wreaking his vengeance on 
a child, " and he well adds, respecting the same, in another 
place, "if our object is to collect a debt, surely this is an inhu- 
man way of doing it. If our object is to extend the area of ne- 
gro slavery, we can only say, that the means are worthy of the 
end." 

And shall the base and cruel contest be continued. We 
wonder that there has not been such an outburst of opposing 
feelings from tho true and the faithful, as to prevent its prose- 
cution thus far. It is astonishing how suddenly and extensive- 
ly the country has been lighted up with the fury, become in a 
blaze with the fierce passions of war. And sad is the reckless- 
ness with which political demagogues and a venal press, labor 
to fan the flame of strife. Many, indeed seem to be intoxicat- 
ed with military glory, to be maddened with the lust of conquest. 
Though some hundred millions of money have been squander- 
ed by our government ; and on both sides, some twenty thous- 
and persons have perished in the desolations of the camp and 
the battle-field, sending misery and distress to thousands more, 
though no tongue can tell the vices which the war has engen- 
dered, and the corrupting, demoralizing influence that it is dif- 
fusing through the various ranks of society, — we see, as yet, 
no solid ground to hope for the speedy cessation of the dire 
hostilities. How much farther shall we push our conquests ? 
How much longer shall we cause the plains of Mexico, and the 
ravines of the Cordilleras, to reverberate with the roar of can- 
non, and the wail of death, and crimson the soil with human 
gore ? Oh, how loudly does the voice of blood now cry to 
heaven from that devoted land ! 

Take heed, then, lest ye be beguiled, by the paltry em- 
bellishments, and delusive coloring, thrown over the Mexican 
war. 





I am not speaking as a politician. I would introduce noth- 
ing, of a mere party nature, into the sacred desk. I do not 
dabble in that water here. I speak as a minister of that 
Savior whose kingdom is not of this world. The question is 
addressed, not to party prejudice, but to conscience, shall 
we, considering the motives, from which the war was begun, 
and is prosecuted — be flushed with joy at the bloody victories 
over our neighbors; reflect their burning dwellings, and crimson- 
ed fields, by gay illuminations ; and re-echo their dying groans, 
in acclamations of praise ? Does it not become us, rather, 
in view of the war, which has hurried thousands, in the beauty, 
health, and strength of manhood, to an untimely grave, re- 
morselessly severing the tenderest ties ; and in view of the 
solemn denunciation of scripture, "Woe to him that buildeth 
a town with blood, and establisheth a city by iniquity," — does 
it not become us, to humble ourselves before God on account 
of our sins, and implore his mercy ; earnestly beseeching him, — 
stop, stop this dreadful scourge, and say unto it, "Hitherto 
shalt thou go, and no further ?" 

2. In the present crisis of our national affairs, we are prone 
to pay our homage to the military hero, to the neglect of the 
man of true moral worth. 

This evil tendency is intimately allied with that just named. 
If we honor the project of conquering Mexico, we shall hardly 
fail to honor the man, who gives his hand and heart to the work. 
Nay ; — some, while they curse the war, in the strongest lan- 
guage, with the same mouth, bless the warrior ; a gross incon- 
gruity to an unsophisticated mind. Be it that those of the 
United States army are bound, to a certain extent, to render obe- 
dience to the government. Shall they be mere passive tools in 
its hands, executing its orders, right or wrong, without asking 
any questions for conscience' sake ? What strange infatuation, 



10 

then, is leading people to make such demonstrations in favor of 
the wilful conqueror. 

I had hoped that civilization and Christianity were so far ad- 
vanced, that war would no more be considered, as the path to 
glory ; that he, who could wield adroitly the devouring sword, 
and aim with precision the vollies of death, would not any long- 
er, be deemed most worthy of the honors and offices of state. 
It is not so surprising, that in the dark ages, and among savage 
hordes, martial prowess should be ranked as the first of virtues. 
We wonder not, that among the degenerate antedeluvians, the 
mighty men were men of renown. But, that now in the nine- 
teenth century of the christian era ; that here in the heart of 
Christendom, there should be such a passion for deeds of vio- 
lence, as is evinced by the enlistments and applications for com- 
missions ; such sympathy and homage for the brute-like courage 
of the battle-field, as appears from the enthusiasm, with which 
the name of a conqueror is greeted, — this is the astounding, the 
melancholy fact. What ! are we so averse to the pacific and 
benevolent spirit of the gospel, so blind to moral worth, so lost 
to virtue, that we can honor no name but that written in blood ? 
Cannot one gain ascendency here but by the sword ? Does the 
path to distinction in this republic lie only through oppression 
and slaughter ? Must a person tread down the African, and 
ride with iron hoof over the Mexican, in order to become quali- 
fied to rule over us ? Can one reach the Presidential chair only 
by paving his way thereto, with mangled corpses, and the 
crushed and bleeding hearts of thousands of unoffending vic- 
tims ? Is it indeed true among us, that, 

"One to destroy is murder by the law, 
And gibbets keep the lifted hand in awe ; 
To murder thousands takes a specious name, 
War's glorious art, and gives immortal fame:"' 



11 

Tell it not to the Mahommedans of Turkey, publish it not to 
the Pagans of India, lest the uncircuincised triumph over us, 
and laugh us to scorn ! 

When, when shall high and noble sentiments of justice and 
humanity pervade the nation. When shall we breathe the spir- 
it, and copy the example of him, who went abont doing good ; 
and learn to say with him, "Blessed are the peace-makers," in- 
stead of shouting, "Plonor to the blood-stained conquerors;" 
learn that better is he who saveth a country from war, than he 
that winneth a thousand battles. 

As, therefore, we consider the eulogistic commemorations of 
those who have perished in the strife, and that the living con- 
querors of Monterey, Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo, are, to such 
an extent, the objects of popular adoration, we should beware, 
lest, at the sound of the fife and drum, we too join in the idol- 
atrous homage. It is this practice which so fosters the martial 
spirit. While we pay our honors to the heroes of war, they will 
multiply upon us to our peril. Our own history attests the 
truth of the remarks, made by Gibbon, more than half a cen- 
tury ago ; — "As long as mankind shall continue to bestow more 
liberal applause upon their destroyers, than on their benefactors, 
the thirst of military glory will ever be the vice of the most 
exalted characters." 

Besides, we should not forget that there is a bravery superi- 
or to that displayed in baring the bosom to volleys of musketry, 
or in facing the cannon's mouth. This may spring from those 
instincts which we possess in common with the brutes, from un- 
reflecting ignorance, or the reckless hardihood of vice, it being 
often found to exist, in the highest degree, among piratical 
hordes. But, to be of unflinching, unbending integrity ; to act, 
like righteous Noah, from a sacred regard to conscience and to 
God, in the face of a world of scorn, — here is an instance of 



12 

the moral sublime, unparalleled in all the annals of martial 
prowess. 

And then the object of christian heroism is something nobler 
than ever entered the mind, or fired the soul of thousands who 
have fallen in battle. The disciple of Jesus, like his Master, 
aims not to curse, but to bless ; not to wound, but to heal ; not 
to destroy, but to save men ; — and that too, with an everlasting 
salvation. And, while the music that attends the career of the 
warrior, is the shock of battle, the crash of falling cities, the 
shrieks of the wounded, the groans of the dying, and the wail 
of the bereaved ; what songs of prosperity and bliss ; what loud 
hallelujahs to God and the Lamb, from sin-pardoned and renewed 
souls, cheer on his way the soldier of Christ ! Yes, while the 
track of victorious war is like that of a tornado, or of the de- 
vouring fire, the triumphant march of the gospel may be traced 
like the flowing of a river by the fertility and beauty spread 
along its course. The streams that issue hence are what make 
glad the city of our God. 

Let our public journals then speak of "the gallant exploits," 
and "brilliant achievements," by which so many have been 
slaughtered and taken captive, on the field of Mexico, — would 
you see that truly worthy of your admiration, look rather to the 
ransomed throng on Missionary ground, who have been redeemed 
from the wretched captivity to Satan, into the glorious liberty 
of the sons of God. This is the sight pleasing to Heaven. It 
is the conversion of a sinner to Christ, which leads the angels 
to strike anew their harps of joy. 

How much superior, then, in its nature and its object, is chris- 
tian heroism, to mere military courage. 

"There may be glory in the might 
That treadeth nations down — 
Wreaths for the crimson conqueror, 
I'ride for the kingly crown ; 



13 

But nobler is that triumph hour 
The disenthralled shall find, 
When vengeful passion boweth down 
Unto the Godlike mind." 

In the words of scripture, "He that is slow to anger is better 
than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that ta- 
ke th a city." What, then, if others do shout over the despe- 
rado of the battle-field, as though martial prowess were synony- 
mous with patriotism, or even the tie plus ultra of all perfec- 
tion ; may we consider that the spirit of humanity, and christian 
benevolence, is an ornament essential to entitle one to our high- 
est esteem. 

In view, therefore, of the evil tendencies spoken of, fellow 
soldiers of Christ, awake to action. Honor, by your fidelity 
and devotedness, the cause which you have professedly espous- 
ed — the cause designed to cover the whole earth with peace, 
truth, and righteousness, and to fill all heaven with joy. And 
mark, for yonr encouragement, the certainty that success shall 
crown the efforts of the faithful. 

"We know not what will be the result of the Mexican contest. 
The prospect as yet seems dark. But those enlisted under the 
banner of the cross are engaged in no doubtful struggle. Their 
final victory over sin, and death, and hell, is sure as the word 
of the Eternal One. Are you, fellow combatants, prone to 
yield to despondency ? to fear that you shall fail in the attempt 
to grapple with your foes — foes so many, so subtle, and so 
mighty ? We must indeed experience the tug of war. For, 
as says the apostle, "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, 
but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of 
the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high 
places." But in the language of the same Apostle, "Be strong 
in the Lord and in the power of his might." Behold the Cap- 



14 

tain of your salvation. He has fought the way through all the 
ranks of the enemy, and triumphantly ascended to glory. And 
rest assured that if you suffer with him, you shall also reign 
with him ; that if you fight the good fight of faith, ever watch- 
ing unto prayer, you shall come off conquerors, and "more than 
conquerors through him that loved us." 

And mark, also, for your encouragement, the prize of victory 
in the christian warfare. It is estimated that of all the volun- 
teers who engage in the present conflict with our neighbors, not 
more than half will ever return. Whether this estimate be 
correct or not, it is certain that those who plunge into the scene 
of commotion, do it at their peril. Mexico has already proved 
the burial-ground of thousands of our young men. But, though 
the soldier of Christ be in an enemy's land, beset behind and 
before with most wily foes, by the shield of faith he can quench 
all their fiery darts ; and none, by stratagem, or surprise, by 
any Guerilla subtlety, or overpowering force, can pluck him out 
of the hands of his ever-vigilant and all-conquering leader. 
And what a reward awaits him, when the war is over, and he 
is discharged ! He shall return to Zion, with songs and ever- 
lasting joy upon his head, and that too, to receive an exceeding 
and eternal weight of glory, together with an inheritance incor- 
ruptible, undefiled and that fadeth not away. And what an es- 
cort to attend him home ! — no less than that of the Son of man in 
his glory, and all the holy angels with him. And what an illu- 
mination to light up the golden streets of the city of his desti- 
nation ! — an illumination made — not by the flickering, fading ta- 
pers of earth — made by what is more beautiful than the moon, 
more brilliant than the sun ; — the glory of God shall lighten it, 
and the Lamb shall be the light thereof. 

Ye, then, who have enlisted under the banner of the cross, 
when you consider the heavenly cause in which you have en- 



15 

gaged and the certainty and the glory of the victory . that shall 
crown the devoted laborer therein, be faithful unto death. 

Shall the hearts of thousands burn with the fever of valor in 
the shameful, perilous conflict with Mexico ; — and will you be 
dead to all motives to enthusiasm in the christian warfare ? 
The members of a brigade, engaged in the battle of Buena 
Vista, are so sensitive to their supposed loss of reputation in not 
joining there at once in the death-grapple, that article after ar- 
ticle has appeared in the public prints, to retrieve that supposed 
loss. Now, shall they, in a most inglorious strife, be ail-trem- 
blingly afraid of losing the vain applause of men, — and will any 
of the sacramental host of God's elect, be so wanting in the bra- 
very of principle, so void of the spirit of christian heroism, as 
to shrink from obedience, seek to evade obligation, or fly from 
the post of duty, regardless of that honor which comes down 
from above ? What though we be not applauded here? Not 
they who recklessly sweep hosts to destruction, but according 
to sacred writ, they who turn many to righteousness, though 
they live and die "unwept, unhonored, and unsung" on earth, 
shall shine as the stars forever and ever in the kingdom of God. 

And, ere I close, may I not urge all present to enlist in such 
a service as that of Christ? In order to trample down the 
Mexicans, and wrest from them their territory, and thus prop- 
agate Southern institutions, and open a new market for the 
slave-trade, the cry has gone through the land, — "Young men 
for the war." Nor has that cry been in vain. Thousands 
have flocked to the standard. But who is on the Lord's side ? 
Who enlists under the banner of the cross ? As a recruiting 
officer then, of the Redeemer's cause, I would here lift up my 
voice and say, "Young men for the christian combat." To 
conquer sin in your own heart, to stem the tide of corruption in 
the world around, and make earth the abode of purity and 



16 

l ve 5 — here — without going to Mexico — here is an opportunity 
to show your patriotism ; here is scope enough for your valor, 
here is an object to call forth all the ardor of your spirit. 
And -will you not enlist ? Shall the drum be beaten and the 
trumpet be sounded for recruits, in vain ? The call is not to 
young men only, but to old men, to women and children even. 
"Whoever will" says Christ, "let him come." By his broken 
body, and his blood that was shed, he pleads with you to enter 
his service. Be entreated jto yield to the expostulation. Ac- 
knowledge Jesus as your Captain, and under him go forth to 
conquer, — not in cruel mockery, but in deed and truth — to 
"conquer a peace," the peace of Mexico and the peace of the 
world. when shall the olive-branch, instead of the sword, 
preside over the destinies of the nation ! 

A short time since, I stood on the margin of yonder sheet of 
water, when it was not disturbed by the slightest breeze, and 
was much interested in observing how distinctly and beautifully 
it reflected from its smooth, glassy surface the Overarching skies ; 
while I could not but consider how soon the wind would so ruf- 
fle that surface, as to entirely break the charm of the delight- 
ful vision. And, thought I, it is not the earth as a theatre of 
wars and revolutions, converted into a field of battle and of 
blood ; but the earth when free from strife, its inhabitants 
dwelling as brethren in unity, the earth as the habitation of 
peace, which presents the counterpart, the reflected image of 
heaven, that abode of perfect and everlasting rest. 



146 



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